GE Vernova Trains 100 School Girls to Boost STEM Careers in Nigeria

By Adedapo Adesanya The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 to three scientists — Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Alexei I. Ekimov for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. According to the announcement on Wednesday, the Nobel Laureates in Chemistry 2023 have succeeded in producing particles so small that their properties are determined by quantum phenomena. The particles, which are called quantum dots, are now of great importance in nanotechnology. “Quantum dots have many fascinating and unusual properties. Importantly, they have different colours depending on their size,” says

By Bliss Okperan The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that it has discarded the use of the paper and pencil test model and has adopted the Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). In a statement obtained on Monday by Business Post, it was disclosed that this system will become effective from February 2024. In the statement signed by the acting Head of the Public Affairs Unit at WAEC, Ms Moyosola Adesina, the examination body said it adopted this mode to meet up with the latest global system. “In line with global best practices, the

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Norwegian writer, Mr Jon Fosse, for “his innovative plays and prose, which give voice to the unsayable,” according to the Royal Swedish Academy. One of his country’s most-performed dramatists, Mr Fosse, 64, has written some 40 plays as well as novels, short stories, children’s books, poetry and essays. Learn more about the 2023 #NobelPrize in Literature: https://t.co/dVT9QJr7PM — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 5, 2023 Mr Mats Malm, permanent secretary of the academy, announced the prize Thursday in Stockholm. Mr Malm said he reached Fosse by telephone to

By Bliss Okperan and Precious Olisa Students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, have staged a peaceful protest against the hike in tuition fees by the management. The aggrieved students gathered at the school’s premises to express their dissatisfaction over the development, calling on the authorities to reverse the action. As reflected on the institution’s portal, new students are expected to pay N230,000 for the 2023/2024 session compared with the previous fee of N76,500, representing about 200 per cent, while the returning students are to pay N180,000, about 135 per cent higher than the

By Adedapo Adesanya The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Umar Dambatta, has said the commission generated over $500 million for the federal government from the recently successful fifth-generation spectrum auction. He also unveiled plans for the deployment of technology to verify annual operating levies (AOL), tax and other payments by network service providers to the federal government. Mr Dambatta made these disclosures in Abuja on Wednesday during an investigative hearing held at the instance of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the duplication of functions of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the central

By Ebitonye Akpodigha The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has been directed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to pay Capital Oil and Gas Industry Limited the sum of N26.5 billion as contained in a consent judgment delivered in 2013. The ruling was given on Thursday. Justice Abdul Kafarati, in his judgment, held that the court has powers to enforce its judgment or that of any lower courts in the country. “An order is granted for AMCON to provide Trade Finance Facility in the sum of N16 billion for revamping of the plaintiff’s business and to pay

By Modupe Gbadeyanka A project aimed to promote rural ICT connectivity in the African region has been established by Mozilla and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU). A statement from ATU explained that the project will ensure affordable access to communication across the continent through the utilisation of spectrum policy, regulations and practices. “I believe access to spectrum in underserved regions cannot be treated purely as an economic decision. “If citizens can’t take advantage of modern communications tools, an approach focused simply on auctions will amplify inequalities. “Spectrum strategies need to reflect the urgency of making access to broadband both inclusive

 By Adedapo Adesanya It was bearish for crude futures on Tuesday as expectations of economic stimulus to support the world’s biggest oil consumer appear to slow down. Brent crude was down by 31 cents or 0.69 per cent to $44.68 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate oil lost 23 cents or 0.55 per cent to trade at $41.71 per barrel. Both futures rose at the previous session but made a reverse as traders were not satisfied at developments tied to efforts toward economic relief from the impact of the coronavirus. White House officials and top Democratic lawmakers had

By Nneka Okumazie The optics of a Pastor, preaching genuine repentance and holiness, seen with a political leader seems inappropriate to some critics. The expectation that a Pastor, with mission of Christ – for salvation, healing and deliverance, should abandon all and become a political activist is common. The elevated status of a Pastor, to some people, should be the springboard to lob critics at government. But what many often miss is that government that isn’t responsive to criticism would hardly budge – if another voice is added. And while it is possible to advise generally and make suggestions for

By Dipo Olowookere Some wine stores at Wuse Market in Abuja have been shut down by officials of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) because they were not only duly registered, but also counterfeits. Leading the operation on Friday was the agency’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr Shaba Mohammed, who said NAFDAC has zero tolerance for counterfeits in Nigeria. He said, “The operation is in continuation of a renewed global anti-counterfeiting fight against counterfeit, substandard, fake and unwholesome food and beverages in collaboration with Interpol and Europol.” Mr Mohammed further said that, “This operation is

By Adedapo Adesanya The bears won the supremacy tussle on opening day on the floor of the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange, ripping the exchange open by 0.14 per cent at the close of business. The unlisted securities market fell to the control of the bears as a result of losses recorded by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria and Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc. Friesland Plc lost N5.90 or 5.1 per cent to close the session at N115.10 per share in contrast to N121 per share of the last trading session, while NGX Group Plc declined by 46 kobo or 2.9 per

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Trade between China and Nigeria reached $9.5 billion in 2016, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy, Mr Zhao Linxiang, has disclosed. Mr Linxiang gave the figure at a dinner to host participants of different training courses in China on last Friday in Abuja. He said Nigeria remained China’s fourth largest trading partner in Africa despite challenges in bilateral relations between both countries. “In the first 11 months of last year (2016), our bilateral trade reached $9.5 billion. It is a great achievement under the current condition the Nigerian economy is. So far, China’s total